Politicians attend youthwork showcase

The aim of the exhibition is to inform politicians of the activities and work of youth organisations at a local level. Sixteen national youth organisations will be in attendance and will meet with a number of TDs and Senators from constituencies across Ireland to explain how they work with and for young people.

“A key message at the event will be the need especially in a downturn in the economy to ensure the most vulnerable in society, particularly young people are protected, and that resources are invested that will enable them to deal with and address the current challenges now and into the future. The decisions taken now which impact on the lives of children and young people will have a long term effect and it is therefore vital that the correct choices are made,” stated James Doorley, Assistant Director at NYCI.

In May this year Taoiseach Brian Cowen acknowledged the importance of children and young people in his address to the Dáil on the day of his election as Taoiseach “It is the youth of this nation who will determine that our peaceful island remains a safe and secure place for all our people to live. It is our youth who will determine how 21st century Ireland meets the challenges of an increasingly globalised economy. It is our young people who will help to shape the environmental destiny of our island, this Continent and the wider world.”

“In light of this the Taoiseach and the Irish Government have a duty to safeguard and support children and young people across Ireland. To consolidate and maintain existing services for young people run by national youth organisations, the Government needs to provide a minimum of a 5% increase or about €2m on our 2008 allocation for 2009. Any less than that and organisations will have no option but to cut the essential services and supports they provide to young people which would serve to deny the most vulnerable in our society the support and protection they deserve,” Mr. Doorley concluded.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Clodagh O’Brien, Communications Officer at the NYCI on 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or email communications@nyci.ie

Notes to Editors:

National Youth Council of Ireland

The National Youth Council of Ireland is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of 51 voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.